Chapter 298 — Seeking Refuge

Dou Yan had already asked him with a smile, "When have you arranged to meet? I will go tell the coachman to ready the carriage."

Looking at Dou Yan, so full of zest, as though setting off on a spring outing, countless excuses that had risen to his lips turned pale and feeble.

With no little helplessness, Song Yan told her the truth. "We are to meet tomorrow night..."

"Then it's settled!" Dou Yan, afraid he might change his mind, said at once, "I'll have someone prepare it right away." He hurried out of the study.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Song Yan's mouth.

The steady, composed Dou Yan rarely showed such childishness. Let her come along, then. At worst, when the time came to deal with Chen Xi, he would simply keep her away.

Once the decision was made, his heart settled.

A young servant hurried in. "Young Master, an invitation from the Jining Marquis's household."

Song Yan gave a sound of acknowledgment and had the man brought in.

The one who delivered it was a steward from the Jining Marquis's household. Standing before Song Yan, he had not yet spoken a word and was already breaking into a sweat.

"The Lady's patent of nobility has come through, and the Marquis has been appointed deputy commander of the Five Districts Garrison Command. They ask that the Young Master and the Lady come have a cup of wine with them."

Song Yan said, "I understand," dismissed the messenger, and went into the inner chambers.

Dou Yan was speaking with Su Xin about something; seeing Song Yan enter, Su Xin quickly withdrew.

Song Yan handed the invitation to Dou Yan.

Dou Yan glanced at it and laughed. "With so much going on at home, how could we possibly get away? If you want to go, you could offer our congratulations on our behalf. Otherwise, we can simply send over some congratulatory gifts."

Song Yan hesitated. "For the sake of appearances..."

"If it weren't for appearances, I wouldn't even send gifts," Dou Yan said. "Why is it that Dou Ming won't come to my banquets, yet when Dou Ming holds one, I'm expected to take my own dignity and gild her face with it? Even if one must humble oneself, there are limits. From now on, however she treats me, I'll treat her the same!"

Dou Yan had, after all, been betrothed to Wei Fan since childhood, and Song Yan always felt that but for a twist of fate, Dou Yan would have married Wei Fan—he would have been only too glad if Dou Yan had turned a blind eye to the Jining Marquis's household from then on. Hearing her say this now, he could not contain his delight. "Fine, then! We'll say there's too much to do at home and no time to drink, and send over a generous gift." Then he added, "Shall we go to the Daxing estate first thing tomorrow morning? We can take the chance to stroll through Fengtai while we're at it.

Last time I made you go home disappointed. This time, with Chen Jia out of the way, perhaps we'll be able to pick out a few good flower seedlings!"

"Why should we change our plans for Dou Ming's sake?" Dou Yan said. "We'll do exactly as we always have. If anyone asks why I didn't go, all the better—let word of it reach Dou Ming's ears." She insisted, "Tomorrow we'll go to the Daxing estate after lunch, and if we want to see Fengtai, we can go in the afternoon."

That was just as well, lest people say Dou Yan was arrogant.

Song Yan nodded.

The next day, one of them received a few people who had come to the Yingzhen Duke's residence to collect rewards in the outer courtyard, while the other handled a few household matters in the inner courtyard. Just as they were about to sit down to lunch, Gao Sheng came hurrying over, short of breath.

"Fourth Young Miss, Young Master-in-law—" He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Everyone is waiting for you to begin the feast!"

"The Young Master and I have urgent business at the Daxing estate; I'm afraid we won't be able to make it," Dou Xin said. "Fortunately we've already sent a generous gift, so it won't be taken as a discourtesy. I'd trouble you to explain for us."

"What could be more important than the banquet at the Fifth Young Miss's household?" Gao Sheng knew perfectly well this was Dou Zhiwei's excuse, but since he had come on Dou Huaiying's orders, he had no choice but to press on. "Last time it just so happened that the Fifth Young Miss was due for her home visit; you can hardly blame her..."

Dou Xin cut him off. "If she truly had no time, she would have explained to me afterward, and I would have been glad today to give her this face. But to this day she hasn't spoken a single word to me. That being so, we're better off keeping things clean between us: the gift goes, but the person doesn't." Seeing that Gao Sheng was about to argue further, she said flatly, "I'm the elder sister; I ought to yield to her. But I've yielded to her for over ten years and she hasn't grown a jot kinder toward me, so say no more." Then she suddenly asked, "Has my Fifth Aunt and the others gone?"

Gao Sheng did not know what she meant by it, and answered respectfully, "They've gone!"

Dou Xin said, "Then when you go back later, report my words to my father in front of all the relatives. That way they'll know there's no sand in my eyes—however others treat me, I treat them the same!" She added, by way of reminder, "Chen Sou and the others will be coming to the capital before long. It's a good time to give the East Dou a reminder!"

So that when the time came for her to settle accounts with the Dou family over her dowry, the East Dou would not take her for a pushover.

Gao Sheng understood, and a chill went through him. He said nothing more and withdrew respectfully.

So today is already the first of the eighth month... ~~~~... Since I fell ill, I haven't been to work, and my husband keeps me under his thumb—only one hour of internet a day. I've lost all track of the days... Two more weeks and my restriction is lifted...

Ps: Begging for pink votes, (to be continued)